# Arctic For Lemmy vs Igloo

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Arctic For Lemmy at 86% against Igloo's 43%. Arctic For Lemmy also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.7). Igloo's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks) and ratings volume (119 vs 20). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Arctic For Lemmy sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Igloo sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Arctic For Lemmy holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Igloo has 119 ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Arctic For Lemmy's written reviews are positive against 43% of Igloo's.

Arctic For Lemmy ships an update every 5 weeks, Igloo every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Arctic For Lemmy | Igloo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arctic-for-lemmy/id6457925837/reviews)** | [3.7 (119 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/igloo/id6475702560/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 20 | **119** |
| Positive reviews | **85.7% of reviews** | 43.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 46 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dana Buehre](https://appshunter.io/developer/1701016211) | [Eskimo Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1037652122) |

## What reviewers say

### Arctic For Lemmy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arctic-for-lemmy/id6457925837)

This native iOS client provides a private and ad-free way to experience the Fediverse. Browse feeds with embedded content, engage in conversations with a rich markdown editor, and enjoy customizable features for seamless navigation and notifications.

**Highlights:** Ad-free and tracker-free experience, Native media viewing (photos, videos, GIFs), Rich markdown editor for content creation, Customizable swipe gestures, Unlimited account switching, Push notifications for accounts and communities, Content filtering by keyword

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Safari Extension

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Generous Tip | $5.99 | one-time |
| Bountiful Tip | $9.99 | one-time |
| Supporter Tip | $19.99 | one-time |


### Igloo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/igloo/id6475702560)

This IRC client has been completely re-engineered for enhanced performance and stability. It offers a refined user experience with a redesigned interface, simultaneous file transfers, and optimized bouncer integration. Enjoy secure communication, versatile file sharing, and extensive customization options.

**Highlights:** Multi-file DCC/XDCC transfers, Redesigned user interface with themes, Optimized for bouncers (ZNC), Comprehensive network support, SSL/TLS encryption, Inline media viewing, VoiceOver accessibility

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly License | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly License | $7.99 | per year |
| Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Lifetime License (Upgrade) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime License | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Clean, minimalistic, and modern interface
- 🚀 Fast and responsive app performance
- 🔗 Seamless bouncer integration with IRCv3 support
- 📱 Best IRC client available for iOS/iPadOS
- 💬 Active developer with responsive support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive pricing compared to competitors
- 🔄 Forced upgrade from previous version with license non-transfer
- 😤 Developer has dismissive and snarky attitude in responses
- 📵 Cannot stay connected in background (Apple limitation)
- 🚫 Misleading 'free' app store listing (trial only)

**Reported bugs**

- App disconnects when screen turns off or app backgrounded
- Theme selection not persisting between app launches
- User list menu jumps unexpectedly on tap
- Link opening requires multiple taps instead of single tap
- Copy/paste functionality hidden and unintuitive

**Requested features**

- Restore /ignore command for blocking users
- IRCv3 CHATHISTORY extension implementation
- DCC file transfer support
- Ability to hide/disable Slap function
- Color customization for usernames


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Arctic For Lemmy free?

Arctic For Lemmy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Igloo free?

Igloo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Arctic For Lemmy or Igloo?

Arctic For Lemmy is rated higher. Arctic For Lemmy averages 4.8 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Igloo averages 3.7 from 119 ratings.

### Do Arctic For Lemmy or Igloo have ads?

Neither Arctic For Lemmy nor Igloo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Arctic For Lemmy or Igloo?

Arctic For Lemmy ships an update every 5 weeks, and Igloo every 2 weeks. Most recently, Arctic For Lemmy was updated on September 17, 2026 and Igloo on September 9, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*